when to candle very dark marans and olive egger eggs?

[oregonkat]

Thats a lot of eggs!! If the hatch is successful it is also going to mean a lot of chicks. You might consider having a second incubator available as your hatcher so you can transfer your external pippers to that incubator. That way you wont have quite such a crowd. What incubator are you using? Never mind, I see you have another thread started.

 

[Minky]

Thats a lot of eggs!! If the hatch is successful it is also going to mean a lot of chicks. You might consider having a second incubator available as your hatcher so you can transfer your external pippers to that incubator. That way you wont have quite such a crowd. What incubator are you using? Never mind, I see you have another thread started.

Could I just put them under a heat lamp? I dont have another incubator. I was assuming I'd lose at least 5-8 eggs along the way...

 

[oregonkat]

I dont think you can put pipped eggs under a heat lamp unfortunately, they need to be kept quite humid in order to hatch which is why the incubator humidity is increased at lockdown. Once those little ones hatch they tumble around and push the other eggs around quite vigorously. This process actually is supposed to help the other eggs hatch but with such a large quantity of eggs, I would worry about too big of a crowd. Anyway, this is all IMHO of course. Be prepared to lose more that 5 - 8 eggs during incubation. Good luck and keep posting.

 

[Minky]

Will I need more than 1 heat lamp? I currently have only one. Last time, when I bought day olds, I used a "momma heating pad "x 2 but both pads (that were new in 2018) are duds... so I'm gonna go with a heat lamp...
Also- how big of a brooder will I need? I was going to keep them in my feed room with a heat lamp til they are 3 wks or so. My brooder is about 2 x8 and a foot deep. (has a mesh screen lid). Then at 3 weeks move into the barn in their own "apartment"with a cuddle box. This worked well last year for my broody hen and her 10 chicks.

By the way on a 47 egg first hatch- what would you be "happy with" . I was sort of aiming for 40 as a goal. You think I am more likely to get 30?

 

[oregonkat]

Well, that question is kind of like 'How long is a piece of string?' There are so many variables associated with your incubator, the eggs, the age of the eggs, the fertility of the eggs etc. Were any of your eggs shipped? That makes a huge difference. Honestly, I would be happy with 60% with that many eggs depending on shipped vs. fresh home grown.

 

[Minky]

How long IS a piece of string?

36 of the eggs were the other peoples, local, dont know them- backyard folk like many of us. picked the eggs up in my car. dont know hens age but not many of us keep old hens for selling eggs. My eggs make up the other 12. my hens are 1 and 2 yr old . I can tell my 3 yr olds because their eggs are huge and I didnt hatch any of those. my hens eat very healthy and free range, but rooster is 1 yr old. every time I crack an egg to cook or bake with, it is fertile, so if I have issues with my eggs it will be shells. mine tend to be thin. I have put a thumb thru a few eggs over the 3 years ive been raising chickens.
and yes I give their egg shells back to them, and they have free choice oyster shell.